🎉🎶 Huge congratulations to our NZOS alumni at the 2025 Becroft Aria Competition! 🎶🎉 We’re proud to celebrate the success of our incredible whānau — every finalist working, growing, and sharing their artistry on stage. This is what development looks like, and we are right behind every step of the journey. 💙 🥇 1st Place: Jordan Fonoti-Fuimaono – $7,000 sponsored by the Becroft Foundation 🥈 2nd Place: Sarah Mileham – $3,000 sponsored by the Auckland Opera Studio 🥉 3rd Place: Samuel McKeever – $1,000 sponsored by the Auckland Opera Studio A round of applause as well to all of our NZOS alumni who took part — we see your progress and passion, and we are so proud. 👏 🌟 Holly Evans 🌟 Faamanu Fonoti-Fuimaono 🌟 Jasmine Jessen 🌟 Olivia Forbes 🌟 Alfred Fonoti-Fuimaono Special thanks to the brilliant accompanists who made the performances shine: Rosemary Barnes MNZM, Claire Caldwell, and Jonathan Dunlop. 🎹 #NZOperaSchool #BecroftAria2025 #OperaWhānau #SupportTheArts #AlumniSpotlight #NZOS #OperaLove

🎶✨ A Special Moment for Alanah Jones ✨🎶 This month, NZOS alumna Alanah Jones gave her first performance for our principal supporter, the Freemasons Foundation — and it was nothing short of spectacular. It’s always a joy to see our alumni shine, especially when performing for those who make their development possible. Opportunities like these are at the heart of what we do — connecting young artists with the communities that believe in them. Bravo, Alanah! Here’s to many more milestones ahead. 💙🎤 #NZOperaSchool #NZOS #OperaWhānau #FreemasonsFoundation #NZOpera #SupportTheArts #OperaAotearoa

🎶✨ Don’t miss the farewell of a rising star! ✨🎶 Join us in celebrating Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono — NZ Opera School alumnus and international opera sensation — as he takes the stage for one final performance in Aotearoa before heading abroad to join the Royal Opera House and Merola Opera Program! 📍 Toitoi – Opera House, Hastings 🗓 Sunday 8 June 🕕 6PM – 8PM This Farewell + Fundraiser Concert is your chance to experience Emmanuel’s extraordinary voice live and support him on this next monumental chapter. An evening of power, beauty, and heart — we’ll be there. Will you? 💙🎭 #EmmanuelFonotiFuimaono #NZOperaSchool #FarewellConcert #NZopera

🎭✨ From Whanganui to the South West End of opera scenes! ✨🎭 We’re loving this fabulous shot of NZOS alumna Erica Paterson performing as Noémie (yes, the ugly stepsister!) in Cendrillon by Massenet at the Royal College of Music Opera Scenes in London. We’re so proud to see our alumni shining and continuing to grow in bold, creative, and joy-filled ways. Brava, Erica! 🌟 #NZOperaSchool #AlumniSpotlight #EricaPaterson #Cendrillon #RCMOperaScenes #OperaLife #OperaWhānau

🎶✨ One City. One Stage. One Stunning Sound. ✨🎶 All of our incredible NZOS alumni united in song at Opera in the Strand 2025 — turning the historic arcade into a cathedral of music. Voices rising, hearts full, and a city listening. This is what it’s all about. 💙 #OperaInTheStrand #NZOperaSchool #OperaWhānau #LiveOpera #NZMusicMonth #NZOS #Auckland

🎭✨ La Bohème is coming! ✨🎭 Our friends at NZ Opera are bringing Puccini’s timeless La Bohème to life in a brand new production by acclaimed director Bruno Ravella — opening in Tāmaki Makaurau this month! With stunning voices, fresh staging, and music that moves the soul, this is opera at its most beautiful. 💔🎶 🎟 Tickets are flying — don’t miss your chance: nzopera.com #LaBoheme #NZOpera #Puccini #OperaSeason #NZOS

✨ Olivia Forbes – voice, presence, magic. ✨ Surrounded by the crowd, Olivia Forbes lit up the Strand Arcade with grace and power. At NZOS, we’re proud to offer performance opportunities like this — because talent this radiant deserves to shine right in the heart of the city. 💫🎶 #OperaInTheStrand #OliviaForbes #NZOperaSchool #OperaUpClose #LiveOpera #NZMusicMonth #NZOS

🎹✨ One stage. One sound. One incredible moment. ✨🎶 Pianist Francis Cowan alongside our sensational NZOS alumni, mid-performance at Opera in the Strand 2025. A snapshot of collaboration, energy, and pure vocal joy filling the Arcade. This is what happens when great talent comes together — and the city listens. #OperaInTheStrand #FrancisCowan #NZOperaSchool #LiveOpera #NZMusicMonth #OperaMagic #AucklandEvents

🌟 Gorgeous talent, gorgeous voice – Emma Jones lit up the Arcade! 🌟 Soprano Emma Jones brought beauty, charm, and vocal brilliance to Opera in the Strand 2025 — captivating the crowd with every note. There’s something truly special about hearing a voice like that this close. A moment to remember! 🎶💫 #OperaInTheStrand #EmmaJones #NZOperaSchool #LiveOpera #NZMusicMonth #RisingStar #OperaMagic

🎶 Opera filled the Arcade — and so did the crowd! 🎶 Opera in the Strand 2025 drew an incredible turnout — every level, every corner packed with people soaking in the sound. There’s nothing like standing just steps away from soaring arias in one of Auckland’s most beautiful heritage spaces. This is what live opera should feel like. Huge thanks to Auckland Council for helping make this magical, free public concert possible! 🙌🎭 #OperaInTheStrand #NZOperaSchool #FullHouse #LiveOpera #AucklandEvents #NZMusicMonth #OperaMagic #aucklandcouncilpacificpeoplesadvisorypanel

From Paris to The Strand — Opera at the Heart of City Life NZ Opera School trustee Jack Bourke has been featured in the NZ Herald, sharing global insights on how arts and culture can help revitalise urban spaces — and he’s already putting those lessons into action. In his piece, Jack reflects on Opera in the Strand, where our talented alumni brought classical music to life in the heart of Auckland’s city centre as part of NZ Music Month. A powerful reminder that opera belongs everywhere — not just in grand theatres, but in the everyday places we pass through. We’re proud to see our graduates at the centre of this cultural momentum. Read more in the NZ Herald and stay tuned as we continue championing the future of opera in Aotearoa. #NZOperaSchool #OperaInTheStrand #OperaEverywhere #NZHerald #ArtsInPublicSpace #OperaNZ #CulturalLeadership

🎤✨ Edward Laurenson, centre stage and soaring! ✨🎤 What a moment — baritone Edward Laurenson commanding the Strand Arcade with elegance and power, surrounded by a sea of faces captivated by every note. The Opera in the Strand 2025 audience was electric, and Edward delivered with aplomb. Opera this close? Unforgettable. #OperaInTheStrand #EdwardLaurenson #NZOperaSchool #LiveOpera #AucklandEvents #NZMusicMonth #OperaUpClose